Lawrence Robinson
It's the middle of the summer and you need to do what you can to reduce heat gain in your home. If you don't want to have to spend a fortune to do this, here are three home insulation ideas to implement with your windows:
1. Apply Some Bubble Wrap
Whether you have some old bubble wrap from when you moved into the house or you decide to purchase it new, bubble wrap can be applied to your windows as a form of insulation to help reduce heat inside of your home. Keep in mind that the bubble wrap will cause a bit of distortion, so if you need to be able to see clearly through the window, you may want to consider the following option instead.
To apply the bubble wrap, you will first need to use a pair of scissors or a utility knife to cut the bubble wrap the size of the window pane. Spray the window with a little bit of water and apply the pre-cut bubble wrap directly onto the window pane while the pane is still wet. Press firmly to ensure the bubble wrap stays in place. When you are ready to remove it down the road, simply pull down on one corner.
2. Apply Window Film
Window film for home windows is the same as window tint for your automobile's windows. It will help to reduce the heat gain in the house during the summer, which will allow the interior of your home to stay cooler and keep your HVAC unit from working as hard.
Applying the window film is very similar to the bubble wrap. You will cut the film roughly half an inch large than the size of the window pane, lightly spray the window with water, remove the film backing and begin applying the film to the window starting at one corner of the pane. You will use a plastic squeegee to push the air bubbles out of the film as you apply the film.
3. Add New Weatherstripping
Over time, the weatherstripping around your windows will experience wear and tear and will be unable to properly seal air leaks. When you notice that your weatherstripping has experienced significant cracking or is coming loose from the window, it's time to replace it. The Department of Energy says that there are several different types of weatherstripping, each of which has its own best uses, advantages and disadvantages. In fact, here are just a few of the options that are listed on their site:
For many people, spring is a time for cleaning. I am one of these people. Once warm weather arrives, I feel energized and ready to conquer the large list of cleaning chores that usually need to be completed around my home. One of the chores I always complete during the spring months is window cleaning. I am ashamed to admit that I don’t ever clean my windows during the cold weather months. Because I’m extremely cold natured, I won’t venture outside to scrub my windows in the winter. If you’re making a spring cleaning list, don’t forget to put your windows on it. On this blog, you will discover why spring is the best time of the year to clean your windows.